2012 Porsche GT3 Cup Racer review and pictures

German carmaker Porsche has developed a 911-based GT3 Cup Racer which claims to be the most successful racing car ever. The seventh-generation 911 or 991 has been on the roads for one year now and the specialists have decided to develop a successor. During the Night of Champions event Porsche made the announcement.

The new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup receives power from a 3.8-liter flat-six engine capable of generating 453 horsepower, which means 10 horsepower more than the 997 GT3 RS-based models it replaces. To transfer the output to the rear wheels, the engineers have offered a 6-speed dog-type transmission that was in fact developed by Porsche Motorsport. This is actually the first time a Porsche Cup car features paddle shifters. There was spotted the road-going GT3 prototype equipped with a PDK dual-clutch semi-auto transmission, but there are no more information available on the matter. It seems that the dog-clutch gearbox has been developed only for the Cup Racer version of the Porsche 991. To transfer the output to the road, the specialists have provided single-piece race wheels covered in Michelin tires that measure 27 cm on the front axle and 31 cm on the rear one. These make the model 20 mm and 10 mm wider than the GT3 that has as base the 997. To handle the extra power, the engineers have mounted a new race braking system with inner-vented steel front rotors and six- and four-piston calipers front and rear respectively.

In terms of safety, the new Porsche 991 Cup Racer features a new safety cage that provided better protection in the event of a collision, a new racing seat that can be adjusted with the help of padding. There is also a rescue hatch in the roof that offers easy access to medical staff. The model will have a starting price established at EUR181.200 excluding country-specific taxes. The buyers can choose the color for his brand new car as well.